A/N: Thanks for the reviews. And well, as promised, here is the next chapter.
DISCLAIMER: Only the plot.
Chapter Six: Scarred For Life
Hermione leant on the bars of the balcony and looked out at the dark school grounds with a few tears trickling down her face. Yes she had mourned for the losses of her friends and those she saw as family. But like any normal person she cried every now and then when she thought about the fact that she would never see their smile or hear their voices.
She leant back, moving her head to the stonewall behind her as she looked up at the starry sky with a few fluffy clouds slowly making their way towards the horizon. The sound of the common room door sliding open then shut reached her ears followed by footsteps running up the staircase.
"I have a message from your… friends," said Draco walking over to the glass doors after spotting Hermione half hidden in the shadows.
"What?"
"They want to know what is going on and you should know as to what they are referring too."
Hermione sighed and turned away from Draco too look at the grounds again. Draco walked out and leaned on the balcony with his arms in silence before looking at Hermione.
"So you do have depressed moments," he commented, "Proves that you really are human."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione turning to look at him.
"Well I found it odd you could seem so happy after everything."
"Happy? Is that how I seem?" scoffed Hermione, "I'm not happy. I used to be. We all used too be. Everything seemed perfect, you know? I had my friends and family and school… you know what? You don't need to hear this."
Hermione stood up to leave but Draco stopped her by grabbing her by the arm.
"Granger, I spilled everything to you and you are helping me kick my demons. Listening to you is the least I can do."
Hermione gave a slow nod returned to her spot. Draco sat near her with his back leaning on the balcony rails.
"Everything has changed," sighed Hermione, "No one is the same. I mean, yeah, I know after what's happened people are bound to change. But in some areas the change is so dramatic. Like, Harry is slowly getting back to normal but… it's hard to explain, really. The friendship is different I guess you could say. Maybe that is because I'm not always around them like last year. Or maybe we have just grown apart with what's happened."
"That happens."
"I know. But I get annoyed with them so easy. The constant questioning of what my letters were about… why do they need to know that?"
"Well they don't know you are helping me."
"Because it's none of their business. I don't hound Harry and Ginny for every detail about their relationship or Ron about who he likes now."
"Well that one is easy."
"What are you saying?"
"He likes you."
"Yeah right," replied Hermione rolling her eyes.
"Anyone can see it."
"It would never work. We are both too stubborn and I don't even like him in that manner."
"Can I point something out about yourself?"
Hermione looked at him curiously, "What?"
"Well, you used to never wear stockings with your school skirt but now you do. You cover your legs up constantly."
Hermione shifted on the ground and looked down at her left leg, "So?"
"Why do you dress like that?"
"What does it matter? I feel comfortable like this."
Draco gave Hermione a disbelieving look; "I am guessing you are lying and that something did happen to you personally in the war."
Hermione stood up shaking her head, "Nothing happened to me."
"Then why are you acting so odd about a non-existent thing?"
"Because you are aggravating me," shot Hermione over her shoulder as she stormed into the common room with Draco following her not believing a single word she was saying, "So now you are going to follow me until I tell you something that doesn't exist?"
"What type of existence are you talking about? Physical or emotional?"
"Neither because neither exist!"
Draco nodded silently as Hermione busied her self with setting out books on the table to begin doing her homework with. Draco sat on the lounge with his potions book quietly flipping through it the assigned pages before turning to look at Hermione.
"I think it's a physical thing."
Hermione gave an angry sigh but didn't reply.
"You were injured during the war somehow. The injury left you disfigured in some way."
"And I will disfigure you if you don't shut up," snapped Hermione tensely.
"Now only a person who was affected physically would say that."
"Okay fine!" cried Hermione angrily.
Draco looked up as she stood up and stormed over to where Draco sat. He watched as she used a pair of scissors and snipped a hole into her black stockings. She dropped the scissors on the lounge and ripped her stockings from her knee too midway up her left thigh. Holding her skirt up a little Draco looked at the clear jagged scar running from her knee too halfway up her thigh.
"There you go," said Hermione with tears in her eyes, "I am permanently scarred with a reminder of what I went through. I was terrified about Kingsley when out of nowhere this Death Eater with goblin made dagger dragged the blade from my thigh to my knee. They can't get rid of the scar because of what the blade was made from. Now you know what changed me. I hide myself from the world in case someone sees it. If I study people leave me alone."
"But you shouldn't-"
"Shouldn't what?"
"Hide. You risked your life for your loved ones… for the world."
"Everybody reacts differently to what they do."
Hermione turned and headed to her room leaving Draco confused as too the other side of Hermione Granger he just met- the insecure and angry with the world side.
HD
"She is hiding something."
"We are her friends. She should tell us."
"Perhaps you should just back off and leave her alone."
Harry, Ron, and Ginny all spun around in the library the next day, a Friday afternoon, to see Draco sitting at a table working on an assignment.
"Perhaps you should just butt out of this, Malfoy," snapped Harry furiously.
Draco raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Those words were so hurtful Potter. Did a two year old teach you that reply?"
"Buzz off Malfoy," snarled Ginny glaring at him.
"Well unfortunately the library is for studying purposes only, and clearly I am doing that… you three on the other hand are talking and the library is not meant for social purposes."
"I want to know what is going on between you and Hermione," demanded Ron pushing past Harry and Ginny, "We know she is hiding something and it has to do with you, Malfoy."
"What do you want me to say?" asked Draco crossing his arms over his chest as he was hit with a craving. He swallowed a lump in his throat and focused on the argument at hand, "That I am shagging Granger? That we are having a secret relationship? Which one will put your nosy minds at ease?"
"The truth."
"Well, the truth is none of your business," replied Draco closing his books, gathering them and standing up, "But you are welcome to use your imagination as to what is going on."
Draco turned and headed out of the library knowing full well that Harry, Ron, and Ginny were following him. He finally turned to face them in the Entrance Hall with a look of pure annoyance.
"Have you ever considered that maybe you don't need to know everything that happens in Granger's life? That perhaps she is entitled to a life of her own?"
"Why do you care?" snapped Ron, "Doesn't your life generally revolve around drugs, sex and alcohol? I mean isn't that what you are all about? Getting high to escape your sad, dismal life?"
Draco looked at Ron with fury, his fists clenched tightly.
"Oh, did I hit a nerve?"
"You don't know a fucking thing about me."
"Well you are a Malfoy. I generally think that would say it all."
"What is going on?" cried Hermione walking in from the school grounds as she took in the scene of Ron smirking at Draco, who was glaring at him in a tensed position, "Malfoy? Ron? Can someone please tell me what on earth is happening here?"
"Oh I was just reciting Malfoy's favourite activities to him."
"The Weasel seems to believe me knows me better then anyone else."
Hermione turned to Ron with a raised eyebrow, "Is that so, Ron?"
Ron, Harry, and Ginny looked at Hermione in surprise. Here she was again defending Draco like he was her bestfriend, boyfriend or someone special.
"You know what he is like," shrugged Ron.
"I do. But do you?"
"Hermione he is a Malfoy! Don't you think that is the only thing anyone needs to know?"
"I don't know Ron. If we judged everyone by his or her last time we would have a pretty warped view on everyone. You hear the name Weasley and you think a humble, kind family who judge no one. But that isn't always the case."
"What are you saying?" asked Ginny.
"There is always more to a person then meets the general eye. But I want to know what sparked the argument between you three and Malfoy. As Headgirl I am demanding to know the truth."
"They were questioning your secrets again," jumped in Draco before the three Gryffindor's could speak, "I told them to butt out as it is none of their business."
Hermione looked at her friends and they nodded. Hermione gave a sigh and nodded, "Well what I hide is what I want to hide. Nobody needs to know everything about someone if they don't want to tell you. You just need to accept it and move on."
"No, but you go around telling this drugged up loser!" snapped Ron.
"Fucking Weasel!" roared Draco dropping everything and tackling him to the ground.
"Malfoy! Ron!" cried Hermione in surprise as the two rolled along the ground punching, kicking, and chocking each other with every chance they got.
"Harry, help me!" cried Hermione.
The two ran over with Harry yanking Ron off Draco with help from Seamus and Dean. Hermione knelt beside Draco looking at him worriedly as well as glancing at Ron with the same worry.
"So your more worried about drug boy?" snapped Ron.
Draco made a lunge at Ron but Hermione grabbed his robe tightly and yanked him back.
"You want to know my secret?" cried Hermione from where she knelt, "I am helping Malfoy kick the drugs and alcohol. I am being his support through it all and I know all his secrets as well. So there you go Ron. You know. I hope that answer satisfies you and that your bruises hurt in the morning."
Hermione stood up and helped Draco up before they walked through the crowds to the calmness of their common room.
HD
Hermione sat on the lounge with her head in her hands as she let out long angry breaths. Draco walked out of the bathroom after examining his bruises and bloody lip.
Hermione glanced up at him and looked away shaking her head.
"I held off as long as I could Granger," snapped Draco, "The Weasel was asking for it anyway. Besides if I didn't hit him I think he would have your hand print on his cheek at the moment and in the end you would've regretted hitting him, whereas I don't."
"Fighting solves nothing Malfoy."
"No, but it felt good hitting him," chuckled Draco flopping down on the lounge.
"It's crazy, I'm defending you all the time when all these years I've been defending myself against you."
Draco shrugged, "Things change, Granger. You aren't the only one doing the defending either."
"I know."
The pair fell silent as Hermione curled up on the lounge staring at the unlit fireplace. Draco on the other hand was busy dealing with yet another craving. They were slowly, but surely becoming easier to deal with and didn't tire him out as easy either.
"Are you going to the memorial ceremony in Hogsmeade tomorrow?" asked Hermione.
Draco shrugged, "I don't know. Are you?"
Hermione nodded, "I want to finally say goodbye."
"It's not like my parents name will be on there. Both are still alive if you can call running around soulless being alive."
"Would you rather them dead then in the state they are?"
Draco nodded, "I think if they were dead I wouldn't be as messed up as I am now, you know? Sometimes I just get into a state of anger over it and want to go to Azkaban and kill them myself to let them be free and let them go with what dignity I believe they still have. It's wrong. I don't care how many people a person kills or however serious the crime is, no one deserves to live life without their soul."
Hermione looked at Draco amazed with the passion he had in him about the legal subject. When he spoke a fire ignited in his eyes and all his misery slipped away from his face showing the young man he was.
"If you got really good grades this year you could get into Magical Law School and become a lawyer or politician and campaign to have the law changed," said Hermione, "I'd support the change. I hate anything harmful to happening to any creatures, human or a mere puppy dog."
"I doubt with my record I'd get in anyway."
"You never know."
"I do know."
Hermione didn't reply knowing that if she continued it would head directly into an argument. She stood and headed to her room to get changed from her uniform and into something more comfortable. After selecting her outfit she pulled off her stockings and skirt with her eyes resting on the ugly scar reflection in the mirror. A lump formed in her throat as she ran her hand over it remembering exactly how it happened.
Explosions sounded around her as she ducked and weaved her way through the battle. A cry of agony rose up behind her capturing her attention. Spinning around her eyes landed on three Death Eater's cursing Kingsley Shacklebolt close to death. His body withered on the ground with pain and his eyes were rolling around unfocused with blood trickling from his mouth.
Hermione was stunned at the sight of the strong man, so weak before her eyes. She couldn't move, not even to try and stop the attack. It was extremely heartbreaking to see what cruelty Death Eater's were capable of.
Suddenly Hermione was grabbed from behind and swung around. The next she knew was excruciating pain as a man stared her in the eyes as he dragged a dagger through her leg. Hermione gaped at him as she fell to the ground near to passing out. Blood poured from her leg as a major artery had been hit in the random and sudden attack.
"Hermione!"
Shuddering Hermione fell backwards into Charlie Weasley's arms. Looking at him Hermione grabbed onto his robes in shock.
"Don't tell Harry, Ron or Ginny," begged Hermione as Charlie lifted her up into his arms.
"It's okay. Your secret will be safe," he promised before apperating her to medical attention.
Too that very day her friends had no clue about her attack. They were simply told Hermione was being treated with shock over what had happened to Kingsley and needed to be alone.
Hermione hurriedly pulled on her jeans and a shirt before throwing her robe over her mirror to hide her reflection.
"We all have our demons," whispered Hermione to herself before leaving her room to the common room where Draco still remained. She sat on the empty lounge and focused on the now lit fireplace, "My friends don't know."
Draco looked up from his Charms homework in confusion, "What are you on about?"
"My friends. They have no idea that I was attacked during the war. I made Charlie keep it a secret from everyone. Only Madam Pompfrey, Lupin and Charlie know."
"So you never spoke to them about it? You have simply kept it too yourself until now?"
Hermione nodded, "We all have demons, some need to be dealt with and others don't."
"Well that's a huge load of bull."
Hermione turned to Draco frowning at him, "What?"
"Granger, all demons need dealing with no matter how pathetic they may seem to each individual. I think you need to tell your friends so they can help you through whatever issues the attack left you with."
HD
Hermione walked into the memorial park that had beautiful gardens, a water fountain and at the centre of the park a two-meter tall, half a meter thick, black, marble statue with all the names, from both sides of the war, of who was lost. Hermione looked at the statue finding Mad-Eye Moody, Neville's name and Percy's. Dumbledore was even mentioned, at the very top. On the other side were the people from Voldemort's side. Sure enough, Blaise was mentioned with Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione backed away from it and found Harry, Ginny and Ron standing by a tree. Hermione gave them a small smile remembering what Draco told her the day before about telling them of her attack.
"Hi guys," said Hermione calmly.
"So now you speak to us," snapped Ron, "No Malfoy around to look after?"
"I don't want to argue."
Ron rolled his eyes and Hermione held back a few angry comments she felt like hurling at him at the moment.
"I was attacked," said Hermione bluntly, "During the war."
"We all were Hermione," pointed out Harry.
"But this was different."
"Everyone was attacked differently," replied Ginny.
"Yeah… right," sighed Hermione before turning and walking over to Lupin and Tonks who had just arrived, "Hello Tonks, Remus."
"Hi Hermione," said Tonks with a half smile.
"Good morning Hermione," greeted Lupin, "Would you come with me to get a schedule of this mornings events?"
Hermione nodded and walked over to a small stand where schedules were being handed out for a small donation to St Mungo's.
"How is your leg?"
"Fine."
"Do your friend's know?"
"No. I just tried to tell them but they don't want to hear it," replied Hermione getting slightly upset about it, "Umm… I have to go."
Lupin went to stop Hermione but she took off before he could stop her. Hermione ran from the park and came to a slow walk as she reached the main street. She kept her head down as she headed too the Three Broomsticks so no one could see her tears. Fancy her letting her own battle of mild depression get too her. It was ridiculous. She was normally so strong about everything but the moment she revealed her scar to Draco it was like the reality of what happened had sunk in. Why did he of all people have to notice the fact she constantly wore stockings or long pants?
"Whoa! Steady on there!" came Charlies voice as he stopped Hermione before she ran into him.
Hermione looked up in surprise revealing her tears to Charlie. She hastily wiped them away and cleared her throat, "Sorry."
"Is everything okay?"
"Oh I just came from the park. The names upset me a bit," lied Hermione, "So many people."
"Yeah it is shocking. Do you need some company?"
"No… no… but maybe you could point something out to Ron, Ginny and Harry for me?"
"What?"
"I tried to tell them about my… my attack… but they won't hear me out."
"I see."
"I know I upset them with not telling them about me helping Malfoy out with some of his own problems… but…" Hermione paused as she took a deep breath to calm her self down, "It's changed. The friendship has changed a lot. I don't feel wanted by them anymore. I don't know... it's confusing."
Charlie patted Hermione on the shoulder as Bill and Fleur came walking over hand in hand.
"I should go," said Hermione pulling away from Charlie's touch and hurrying down the road and around a corner to a deserted alleyway.
"You would be the last Gryffindor I would expect to wander down here."
Hermione looked up in alarm but sighed with relief as Draco stood up from where he'd been sitting beside a bin.
"Why are you hiding down here?" asked Hermione cleaning her face to erase the tears, although her tear stained cheeks and slightly red eyes gave it away.
"Well I was bored and everyone was talking about the memorial ceremony. I needed to get away. Why did you come running in here?"
"Just needed to get away," shrugged Hermione not looking Draco in the eye.
"I think you need to take lessons on how to lie," commented Draco before shrugging, "But if that is your story then I will let you stick to it."
Hermione said nothing as she glanced at Draco who was leaning on the stonewall behind him. She felt compelled to tell him everything. It was an odd… relationship or friendship – whatever it was- they shared. In a sense it was built on trust. Trust to be honest with each other about everything.
"Do you… do you want to get a bite to eat?" asked Hermione, "Everyone will be at the park so no one will see us."
"And will you tell me what happened?"
Hermione nodded silently.
"Alright then. Let's go."
A/N: There you go. Hermione does have issues it just took her time for them to let them become known. Anyway please review if you want to read more.
Until next time…
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